RK Vardar 1961 ( mk, РК Вардар 1961) is a professional handball club from

Skopje Skopje ( , , ; mk, Скопје ; sq, Shkup) is the capital and largest city of North Macedonia. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre. The territory of Skopje has been inhabited since at least 4000 BC; ...

Republic of Macedonia North Macedonia, ; sq, Maqedonia e Veriut, (Macedonia before February 2019), officially the Republic of North Macedonia,, is a country in Southeast Europe. It gained independence in 1991 as one of the successor states of Yugoslavia. It ...

. Vardar is the most successful handball team in the country, having won fifteen national League and

Cup A cup is an open-top used to hold hot or cold liquids for pouring or drinking; while mainly used for drinking, it also can be used to store solids for pouring (e.g., sugar, flour, grains, salt). Cups may be made of glass, metal, china, c ...

titles. Also, Vardar is the most successful team in the regional SEHA League having won five titles. The team has also won two

EHF Champions League The Men's EHF Champions League is the most important club handball competition for men's teams in Europe and involves the leading teams from the top European nations. The competition is organised every year by EHF. The official name for the me ...

titles.

History

RK Vardar was founded in 1961, as part of the Vardar Sports Club in

, which had been founded in 1947. The RK Grafichar Skopje club was established in 1948, which in terms of rank and quality was right behind Rabotnichki. In 1961 Grafichar renamed itself to Vardar and almost the entire team of the club RK Partizan Skopje joined the team. Skopje's club Rabotnichki began to experience a crisis and was no longer the strong first league team from the past, and a more ambitious club Vardar entered the scene. A solid team was created, the mainstays were goalkeeper Jovanovski, as well as Atanasovski, Zdravkovski, Savevski and Bozinovski. This talent promised a good future and with coach Boskos, who was armed with great knowledge gained in at the time handball superpower Romania, where he lived until moving to Macedonia. Everything was done ambitiously and after all the obstacles were overcome and the fiercest opponents were defeated in 1976, Vardar joined the first division. They played there for 2 seasons, while in the 80s they spent most of the time in the second division. The handball team rose to power again in the late 1990s becoming one of the two clubs, alongside RK Pelister, to dominate the Macedonian handball scene after the independence of the country. Vardar have participated in the

eleven times and made it to the semifinals of the Cup Winner's Cup three times. Except for 2005, when they came in 4th place, the club has achieved either championship or runner-up in the Macedonian Super League since 1999. They achieved a record win of the Macedonian handball championship by winning their twelfth title in 2018 and are the record cup winner with thirteen victories. On 15 April 2012, Vardar defeated Metalurg at the Zagreb Arena to become the first SEHA League champion. The team has won five titles in the SEHA League. The club started the new 2013–14 season with a new management structure, Sergey Samsonenko as the new proprietor and sport director of the club, while Mihajlo Mihajlovski has become the honorary club chairman. HC Vardar in Skopje

The season of 2016–17 was the most successful for the team because they managed to win the

and the regional SEHA League including the two main domestic championships, the national Handball Super League and the national Handball Cup. Two days after winning the

the team celebrated the victory with approximately 150,000 people in a ceremony on the Macedonia Square in Skopje. Because of the huge success, Gjorgje Ivanov, at the time

President of the Republic of Macedonia The President of the Republic of North Macedonia ( mk, Претседател на Република Северна Македонија; sq, Presidenti i Republikës së Maqedonisë së Veriut) is the head of state of North Macedonia. The off ...

, awarded the members of the handball club Vardar a Medal of Merit for the results they achieved, especially for winning the Champions League title. The club was awarded the national charter of the country. In the 2018–19 season, the team once again managed to win the

, the regional SEHA League and the main domestic championship, the Handball Super League of North Macedonia. One day after winning the

the team arrived in the country with a private jet and celebrated the victory with approximately 250,000 people in a central ceremony at the Macedonia Square in Skopje.

Kits

Accomplishments

Domestic competitions

Macedonian Handball Super League The Macedonian Handball Super League ( mk, Македонска Ракометна Супер Лига, Makedonska Rakometna Super Liga), is the top-tier team handball competition in North Macedonia. It is currently sponsored by VIP. As of 2018, ...

Winner (15): 1998–99, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–2021, 2021-2022 * Macedonian Handball Cup : Gold medal with cup

Winner (15): 1997, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2022 *

Macedonian Handball Super Cup Macedonian most often refers to someone or something from or related to Macedonia. Macedonian(s) may specifically refer to: People Modern * Macedonians (ethnic group), a nation and a South Slavic ethnic group primarily associated with North Ma ...

Winner (3): 2017, 2018, 2019

European competitions

Winner (2): 2016–17, 2018–19 *

EHF Cup Winners' Cup The EHF Cup Winners' Cup was the official competition for men's and women's handball clubs of Europe that won their national cup, and took place every year. From the 2012–13 season, the men's competition was merged with the EHF Cup. Winners ...

''Third placed'': 1998–99, 2004–2005, 2010–2011

Other competitions

* SEHA League : Gold medal with cup

Winner (5): 2011–12, 2013–14, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19 : Silver medal with cup

''Runner-up'': 2012–13, 2015–16, 2019–20 *

IHF Super Globe The Men's Super Globe is a handball competition contested between the champion clubs from continental confederations. On 7 December 2018, the IHF moved the Super Globe to Saudi Arabia for four years, until 2022. Summary Records and statistics ...

''Third placed'':

2017 File:2017 Events Collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: The War Against ISIS at the Battle of Mosul (2016-2017); aftermath of the Manchester Arena bombing; The Solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 ("Great American Eclipse"); North Korea tests a ser ...

2019 File:2019 collage v1.png, From top left, clockwise: Hong Kong protests turn to widespread riots and civil disobedience; House of Representatives votes to adopt articles of impeachment against Donald Trump; CRISPR gene editing first used to experim ...

Individual Club Awards

Double A double is a look-alike or doppelgänger; one person or being that resembles another. Double, The Double or Dubble may also refer to: Film and television * Double (filmmaking), someone who substitutes for the credited actor of a character * Th ...

: Winners (9): 2000–01, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2020–21 *

Triple Crown Triple Crown may refer to: Sports Horse racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing (United States) ** Triple Crown Trophy ** Triple Crown Productions * Canadian Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing * T ...

: Winners (1): 2016–17

Arena

RK Vardar is the owner of the

Jane Sandanski Arena Jane Sandanski Arena ( mk, Спортскиот центар „Јане Сандански“ or ) is an indoor sports arena located in the Aerodrom Municipality of Skopje, Republic of Macedonia . It has a capacity of 6,000. It is named after r ...

where they play all their home matches in the

, the regional SEHA League and in domestic competitions. It's a modern complex with a sports hall of 7,500 seats. It has its own hotel, spa center, hospital and swimming pool. JaneSandanski

The arena is named after the Macedonian revolutionary

Jane Sandanski Yane Ivanov Sandanski (, ) (originally spelled in older Bulgarian orthography ) (18 May 1872 – 22 April 1915), was a Macedonian Bulgarian revolutionary.Per Julian Allan Brooks' thesis the term ‘Macedo-Bulgarian’ refers to the Exarchist pop ...

Team

Current squad

:''Squad for the 2022–23 season'' ;Goalkeepers *1 Borko Ristovski * 12 Martin Tomovski * 99

Vasil Gogov Vasil (Bulgarian and Macedonian: Васил, Georgian: ვასილ) is a Bulgarian, Macedonian and Georgian masculine given name. It may refer to: *Vasil Adzhalarski, Bulgarian revolutionary, an IMARO leader of revolutionary bands *Vasil Amash ...

;Left Wingers *3 Dejan Manaskov * 14

Jan Czuwara Jan Czuwara (born 18 October 1995) is a Polish handball player for Zagłębie Lubin and the Polish national team. He represented Poland at the 2020 European Men's Handball Championship. Honors * Macedonian Handball Super League : Winner: 2 ...

;Right Wingers *9 Goce Georgievski * 45 Darko Đukić * 77

Alen Kjosevski Alen Kjosevski ( mk, Ален Ќосевски; born 7 June 2001) is a Macedonian handball player who plays for RK Vardar 1961. Honors * Macedonian Handball Super League : Winner: 2022 * Macedonian Handball Cup The Handball Cup of North Mace ...

;Line players *5

Stojanče Stoilov Stojanče "Stole" Stoilov ( mk, Стојанче Стоилов) (born 30 April 1987) is a retired Macedonian handball player, and current handball coach. Honours Domestic competitions * Macedonian Handball Super League: : Winner: 2007–08, 200 ...

( c) * 18

Milan Lazarevski Milan Lazarevski ( mk, Милан Лазаревски) (born 9 February 1997) is a Macedonian handball player for RK Vardar 1961 and the Macedonian national team. He participated at the 2017 Men's Junior World Handball Championship The 2017 ...

* 55

Stefan Atanasovski Stefan Atanasovski ( mk, Стефан Атанасовски) (born 8 September 1999) is a Macedonian handball player for KH Rahoveci. Honors :''HC Vardar'' * Macedonian Handball Cup The Handball Cup of North Macedonia ...

;Left Backs * 28

Filip Taleski Filip Taleski ( mk, Филип Талески) (born 28 March 1996) is a Macedonian handball player for RK Vardar 1961 and the Macedonian national team. He participated at the 2017 World Men's Handball Championship, as well as at the 2017 Men' ...

* 97

Marko Miševski Marko Mishevski ( mk, Марко Мишевски) (born 23 August 1999) is a Macedonian handball player for RK Vardar 1961 and the North Macedonia national team. He represented North Macedonia at the 2020 European Men ...

* Leonardo Dutra ;Central Backs * 10 Andrej Dobrković * 11

Martin Karapalevski Martin may refer to: Places * Martin City (disambiguation) * Martin County (disambiguation) * Martin Township (disambiguation) Antarctica * Martin Peninsula, Marie Byrd Land * Port Martin, Adelie Land * Point Martin, South Orkney Islands Austral ...

;Right Backs *8 Yoel Cuni Morales * 21

David Savrevski David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...

Transfers

:''Transfers for the season 2023–24'' ;Joining * Tomislav Jagurinovski (RB) ''(from RK Tineks Prolet)'' *

Pavel Andreev Pavel Vladimirovich Andreev ( uz, Павел Владимирович Андреев; born November 24, 1978 in Tashkent) is an Uzbekistani decathlete. He is a two-time Olympian and a three-time medalist for the decathlon at the Asian Athletic ...

(P) ''(back from loan at

HC Meshkov Brest HC Meshkov Brest (Myashkov Brest, officially A. P. Myashkow Brest Handball Club, ) is a handball club from Brest, Belarus. They currently compete in the Belarusian First League of Handball, in the SEHA League and competed in the EHF Champions L ...

)'' * Mihail Alarov (P) ''(from RK Tineks Prolet)'' ;Leaving *

(RB) ''(to RK Alkaloid)'' ?

Staff

Professional staff

Management

Former club members

Notable former players

* Pepi Manaskov * Stevče Aluševski * Petar Misovski * Branislav Angelovski *

Kiril Kolev The male name Kiril (or Кирил or Кирилл) is a common first name in the Orthodox Slavic world, in particular in Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Russia. It is also well known in Greece but in different forms like Kyriakos. (Note that in m ...

* Vančo Dimovski * Lazo Majnov * Naumče Mojsovski * Zlatko Mojsovski * Goran Kuzmanoski *

Dejan Pecakovski Dejan (Cyrillic: Дејан) is a Serbian masculine given name, derived from the Slavic verb ''dejati'', meaning "to act, to do". The name and the derived surname Dejanović are common among South Slavs. The name is first recorded in 1325 (1333 ...

Radoslav Stojanović Radoslav Stojanović, PhD (Радослав Стојановић) (1930, Obrenovac, Kingdom of Yugoslavia – 31 August 2011) was a Professor of Law at the University of Belgrade and was a member of the Founding Committee of the Democrat ...

* Aco Jonovski *

Marjan Kolev Marjan Kolev (born 4 April 1977) is a former Macedonian handball player who played for the North Macedonia men's national handball team, Macedonian national team. He is currently a coach in France, French club OGC Nice Côte d'Azur Handball, OGC ...

* Mitko Stoilov *

Vlado Nedanovski Vlado Nedanovski (born 23 June 1985) is a retired Macedonian handball player. After he retired as a player ,Vlado started with coaching Handball. Currently he is the coach of HC Vardar. Honours *''As Player'' Domestic competitions * Macedonian H ...

Martin Popovski Martin Popovski ( mk, Мартин Поповски) (born 26 August 1994) is a Macedonian handball player for GC Amicitia Zürich and the North Macedonia national team. Accomplishments :RK Vardar Domestic competitions * Macedonian Handball Supe ...

Marko Kizikj Marko Kizikj ( mk, Марко Кизиќ; born 22 January 2001) is a Macedonian handball player who plays for RK Eurofarm Pelister and the Macedonian national team. Accomplishment ;Domestic competitions * Macedonian Handball Super League : W ...

* Dimitar Dimitrioski *

Zlatko Daskalovski Zlatko Daskalovski (Macedonian: Златко Даскаловски) (born 8 December 1984) is a Macedonian handball player who plays for RK Golden Art and for the Macedonian national team. He represented Macedonia at the 2019 World Men's Handb ...

* Nemanja Pribak * Filip Lazarov * Velko Markoski *

Milorad Kukoski Milorad Kukoski (born 7 December 1987) is a Macedonian Team handball, handball player who plays for RK Eurofarm Pelister and for the North Macedonia men's national handball team, Macedonia national handball team. References

*http://www.euroh ...

* Gradimir Čanevski * Dejan Manaskov * Petar Angelov * Goce Ojleski * Nikola Markoski *

Milan Levov Milan Levov ( mk, Милан Левов) (born 5 April 1987) is a retired Macedonian handball player. Honours * Macedonian Handball Super League : Winner (2):2011,2012 * Macedonian Handball Cup The Handball Cup of North Macedonia ( mk, Рак� ...

* Nikola Mitrevski * Daniel Gjorgjeski *

Nikola Stojčevski Nikola Stojčevski ( mk, Никола Стојчевски; born 9 August 1984) is a retired Macedonian Team handball, handball player. References

*http://24rakomet.mk/?p=37878 *http://www.g-sport.mk/vest-statija/64968/stojchevski-ja-zavrs ...

* Tomislav Jagurinovski *

Alexey Rastvortsev Aleksey Petrovich Rastvortsev (russian: Алексей Петрович Растворцев; born August 8, 1978) is a Russian handball player who competed in the 2004 Summer Olympics (bronze winner) and in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He played for ...

Mikhail Chipurin Mikhail Alekseevich Chipurin (russian: Михаил Алексеевич Чипурин, born 17 November 1980) is a former Russian handball player for the Russian national team. In 2004 2004 was designated as an International Year of ...

* Alexander Dereven * Dmitrii Kiselev *

Pavel Atman Pavel Nikolayevich Atman (russian: Павел Николаевич Атьман; born 25 May 1987) is a Russian handball player for Maccabi Rishon LeZion Maccabi Rishon LeZion is a sport club in Rishon LeZion, Israel. The professional teams as ...

Daniil Shishkarev Daniil Borisovich Shishkaryov (russian: Даниил Борисович Шишкарёв; born 6 July 1988) is a Russian handball player for HBC CSKA Moscow CSKA Moscow (russian: ЦСКА Москва), earlier known as Spartak Moscow, is a han ...

Sergei Gorbok Sergei Valeryevich Gorbok (russian: Сергей Валерьевич Горбок; born 4 December 1982) is a retired Belarusian-born Russian handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team ...

Sergey Gorpishin Sergej Gorpishin (born 31 August 1997, in Erlangen) is a Russian handball player who plays for Die Eulen Ludwigshafen and the Russian national team. He represented Russia at the 2019 World Men's Handball Championship The 2019 IHF World Men' ...

* Gleb Kalarash *

Timur Dibirov Timur Magomedovich Dibirov (russian: Тимур Магомедович Дибиров; born 30 July 1983) is a Russian handball player who plays for RK Zagreb and the Russian national team. He competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, w ...

Strahinja Milić Strahinja Milić (; born 22 December 1990) is a Serbian handball player who plays for RK Partizan. Club career Born in Pristina, Milić moved with his family to Belgrade in 1999. He soon joined the youth system of Partizan. In December 2006, it ...

Stefan Terzić Stefan Terzić ( sr, Стефан Терзић; born 17 May 1994) is a Serbian handball player who plays for RK Celje and the Serbia men's national handball team, Serbia national team. International honours *EHF Champions League: **''Winner'' ...

Ilija Abutović Ilija Abutović (; born 2 August 1988) is a Serbian handball player for C' Chartres MHB and the Serbia national team. Club career After playing for Spartak Subotica, Abutović was transferred to Partizan in 2007. He moved abroad to Slovenian cl ...

* Mijajlo Marsenić * Dejan Milosavljev * Marko Vujin * Vladimir Petrić *

Janja Vojvodić Janja (Cyrillic: Јања) is a town in the municipality of Bijeljina, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Janja is located in the Podrinje region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Janja is famous for the rivers Janja and Drina. It is the on ...

* Alem Toskić *

Iñaki Malumbres Aldave Iñaki is a male given name. It is a neologism created by Sabino Arana meaning ''Ignatius'', to be a Basque language analog to "Ignacio" in Spanish, "Ignace" in French, and "Ignazio" in Italian, and an alternative to the names Eneko and Iñigo. ...

* Alex Dujshebaev *

Arpad Šterbik Arpad Sterbik Capar ( hu, Sterbik Árpád, ; sr, Арпад Штербик, Arpad Šterbik; born 20 November 1979) is a retired handball player who represented the national teams of Yugoslavia (later known as Serbia and Montenegro) and Spain. ...

* Joan Cañellas *

Jorge Maqueda Jorge Maqueda Peño (born 15 March 1988) is a Spanish handball player for HBC Nantes and the Spanish national team. He competed for Spain in the 2012 Summer Olympics. Honours and awards Vardar Skopje * EHF Champions League Winner: 2016–17 ...

* Eduardo Gurbindo *

Blaženko Lacković Blaženko Lacković (born 25 December 1980) is a retired Croatian handball player. He is World champion from 2003,

* Luka Raković * Luka Cindrić * Igor Karačić * Ivan Čupić * Lovro Jotić *

Josip Vekić Josip () is a male given name found among Croats and Slovenes, a cognate of Joseph. In Croatia, the name Josip was the second most common masculine given name in the decades up to 1959, and has stayed among the top ten most common ones throughout 2 ...

Ante Kuduz Ante or Antes may refer to: * Ante (cards), an initial stake paid in a card game * Ante (poker), a forced bet in the game of poker * Ante (name), Croatian form of the given name Anthony * The Latin word ''ante'', meaning "before", which is used as ...

Ante Gadža Ante or Antes may refer to: * Ante (cards), an initial stake paid in a card game * Ante (poker), a forced bet in the game of poker * Ante (name), Croatian form of the given name Anthony * The Latin word ''ante'', meaning "before", which is used as ...

Mladen Rakčević Mladen Rakčević (born 10 February 1982) is a Montenegrin former handball player. Career During his career, Rakčević played for Lovćen (2000–2005), Vardar (2005–2009), Kolubara (2009–2010), Metalurg Skopje (2010–2013), AEK Athens ( ...

Stevan Vujović Stevan Vujović (born 7 April 1990) is a Montenegrin handball player for Minaur Baia Mare and the Montenegro national team. Club career Over the course of his career, Vujović played for Vardar (two spells), Crvena zvezda, Antequera, Lovćen ...

* Vuk Lazović *

Vuko Borozan Vuko Borozan (born 9 April 1994) is a Montenegrin handball player. Achievements Vardar * EHF Champions League : ''Winner'': 2016–17 * SEHA League : ''Winner'': 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19 * Macedonian Handball Super League : ''Winn ...

* Vasko Ševaljević *

Miladin Kozlina Miladin Kozlina (born 11 February 1983) is a Slovenian handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) ...

Matjaž Brumen Matjaž Brumen (born 1982) is a Slovenian handball player who plays for RD Izola. He was born in Ljubljana. He competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics The 2004 Summer Olympics ( el, Θερινοί Ολυμπιακοί Αγώνες 2004, ), o ...

* Gregor Ocvirk * Staš Skube *

Domen Sikošek Pelko Domen may refer to: Places *Domën, a village in Kryevidh commune, Tirana county, Albania *Dömen, Bozdoğan, a village in Bozdoğan district, Aydın province, Turkey *Domen, Norway, a mountain in Vardø municipality, Finnmark county *Domen Butte, ...

* Revaz Chanturia *

Jan Sobol Jan Sobol (born 22 May 1984) is a Czech handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball usin ...

* Rogerio Moraes Ferreira *

José Toledo José Guilherme de Toledo (born 11 January 1994) is a Brazilian handball player who plays for Recoletas Atlético Valladolid and the Brazilian national team. Career José Toledo was born in São Paulo and started to play handball in the local c ...

* Dainis Krištopāns *

Artūrs Kuģis Artūrs or Arturs is a given name. Notable people with the name include: *Arturs Alberings (1876–1934), held the office as Prime Minister of Latvia from 7 May 1926 to 18 December 1926 *Artūrs Bērziņš (born 1988), Latvian basketball player ...

* Khalifa Ghedbane * Ali Safar *

Robin Cantegrel Robin Cantegrel (born 13 February 1995) is a French handball player who plays for Pontault-Combault Handball Pontault-Combault Handball, previously known as UMS Pontault-Combault HB is a French team handball, handball team based in Pontault-C ...

Bakary Diallo Bakary is a given name. Notable people with the name include: * Abubakar Khamis Bakary, Member of Parliament in the National Assembly of Tanzania *Bakary Diakité (born 1980), Malian footballer of part German descent currently playing for FSV Frank ...

Jérémy Toto Jérémy is a French masculine given name. It is a spelling variant of Jérémie, itself the French variant of the biblical name Jeremiah. Its cognate in English is Jeremy. People with the given name Jérémy include: * Jérémy Abadie (born 1 ...

* Olivier Nyokas * Alix Nyokas, Kévynn Nyokas * Christian Dissinger * Patryk Walczak

Notable former coaches

* Ljubomir Savevski * Andon Boshkovski, Andon Boškovski * Zoran Kastratović * Biljana Crvenkoska * Stevče Aluševski * Raúl González (handballer), Raúl González Gutiérrez * David Davis (handballer), David Davis * Roberto García Parrondo * David Pisonero * Dragan Đukić (handballer), Dragan Đukić * Dejan Perić * Josif Petković * Veselin Vujović * Goran Simić (handballer), Goran Simić * Aleksandar Roganović

Notable former presidents

* Sergey Samsonenko

Kit manufacturers

*Hummel International

European competitions record

EHF Champions League

EHF Cup

EHF Cup Winners' Cup

Statistics

All–time Top 10 Scorers in the EHF Champions League

:''As of 2021–22 EHF Champions League, 2021–22 season''

Most appearances in the EHF Champions League

:''As of 2021–22 EHF Champions League, 2021–22 season''

Individual awards in the EHF Champions League

References

External links

*
RFM Profile

EHF Profile

* http://www.seha-liga.com/klub/11/vardar-skopje {{EHF Champions League winners RK Vardar, Handball clubs in North Macedonia, Vardar Sport in Skopje